Bergkamp praises young Gunners

After close to two decades of football at the highest level, Dennis Bergkamp is well placed to assess young talent.

The 35-year-old Dutchman is in no doubt that Arsenal's central midfield tandem of Francesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini - whose combined ages amount to just two years short of his own - can handle Sunday's high-pressure Premiership encounter against Chelsea at Highbury.

Arsenal, five points behind their London rivals in the league after 16 games apiece, go into the match with fresh confidence after sealing their place in Friday week's draw for the knockout stages of the Champions League following last night's 5-1 demolition of Rosenborg.

Arsene Wenger's side contained a remarkable seven players under 21 years of age as injuries and suspensions bit deep and it was the Fabregas-Flamini duo that caught the eye.

Bergkamp said: "They can handle the big occasion. They showed it against Rosenborg in a difficult game with a lot of pressure. All credit to them.

"They have players around who can help them. The main thing is they go out and they do their own thing. They don't know about any pressure."

Wenger also praised 17-year-old Spanish midfielder Fabregas, who scored Arsenal's third goal last night, a stunning volley after some deft touches.

The manager: "It was an excellent goal and a very dominant performance by a 17-year-old boy especially in the first half."

Among those who will give a guiding hand on Sunday will be Bergkamp. After a three-match absence he was back with a flourish as Arsenal responded in a must-win game.

Bergkamp said: "We were always in the right frame of mind, we knew what we had to do and we produced a good performance ahead of Sunday.

"We played some one-touch football and that hasn't been there for a few weeks. It helps to get the confidence back."

It was indeed both the result and the performance that Wenger demanded. With the exception of a costly blunder by goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, everyone excelled.

Patrick Vieira and Lauren were suspended, Gilberto Silva and Edu were injured while Fredrik Ljungberg joined the sick list a few hours before the kick-off when he awoke from a pre-match sleep with a migraine.

Rosenborg coach Per Joar Hansen said: "Arsenal showed us a level tonight we could not really reach. They ran faster, jumped higher and showed us how to hit the target and we made too many mistakes."

Thierry Henry revealed how the squad had bonded closer together as a season that had started with such promise had begun to unravel.

The Frenchman said: "That is all you can do - stick together. We have been through so much stuff together."

He also tried to play down Sunday's match, adding: "It is a huge game but for me all games are huge. These 'big games' only count if you play well all the time. You win titles everywhere, not only against Chelsea.

"You win it at places like West Brom and over 38 games - not only against Chelsea. Everyone has a go at them and I don't understand that. You think it is easy because they are cruising - but it is not easy."